Cigar lighter



Patented July 1, 1941 CIGAR LIGHTER Joseph H. Cohen, Bridgeport, Conn.,assigner to Automatic Devices Corporation, Conn., a corporation ofConnecticut Bridgeport,

Application January 2?., 1937,seia1lN0. 121,761

Claims.

This invention relates to automatic cigar lighters.

The invention is shown as embodied in the type of cigar lighter commonlyused in automobiles, and having a holding device attachable to aninstrument panel or other support, and a separate igniting unit carryinga heating element, said unit being movable on the holding device toeffect energization of the heating element, and kbeing completelyremovable therefrom for transportation and use.

In lighters of this type it is common practice to carry the ignitingunit on the holding device vin a normal, open-circuit position, and toeffect energization of the heating element by closing a circuit inresponse to movement of the igniting unit to a second closed-circuitposition.

In these lighters, when the heating element attains a predetermineduseful temperature it causes operation of a heat-responsive mechanism toopen the circuit through said element, this opening of the circuit beingusually effected by return of the igniting unit to its normalopencircuit position.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means forcompleting the electric circuit through the heating element in responseto movement of a manually operable member, said member, in the lighterembodying the invention, being the igniting unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for openingthe heating element circuit when the element attains a predetermineduseful temperature, this being accompanied by return of the manuallyoperable member to its original position.

These objects are attained by providing an improved electrical contactassembly and latch assembly, characterized in the main by an elongatedeformable heat-responsive snap member in heat-receiving relation withthe heating element, by an electrical contact operatively connected withsaid member, and by means confining and bearing against the edges ofsaid member to cause it to buckle or curve in either of two directions.Normally the snap member is buckled in one of said directions,corresponding to open-circuit position of the contact operativelyconnected therewith. In response to movement of the manually operablemechanism, said member snaps to its other position, operating theContact associated therewith to close the circuit through the 'heatingelement. When said element attains a predetermined temperature the snapmember, in respending to heat from the element, will snap to its initialposition, thereby opening the heating element circuit, this beingaccompanied by return o1 the manually operable mechanism to initialposition also.

This improved contact and latch means has the advantage of being quickand positive in its action, and of having-denite operative positions, asdetermined by the buckling of the snap member to either of twopositions. Other features andadvantages will hereinafter appear. Y Y.

In .the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an axial View of the lighter embodying the invention, inopen-circuit position, the holding device andpart of the igniting unitbeing shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a similar View ofthe lighter, but in closed-circuit position,and with the holding device and all of the igniting unit except the knobbeing shown fin section.

Fig. 3 is a View of the lighter showing the automatically operativeheat-responsive mechanism in a transitory position just before the.circuit through the heating element is opened.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, thetubular shell of the holder being omitted.

The lighter shown in the accompanying drawing as embodying the presentinvention comprises a holding device I0 'secured to a panel I I, andaremovable igniting unit I2.

The holding device IU includes a tubular metal shell I3 having anintegral rear wall or end closure I4 and having its front end externally.Y threaded to carry va nut .I5 for securing Vthe shell to the panel.The walls of the shell near the front end are provided with a pluralityof tongues I6 lanced outwardly therefromk and adapted to engage the backof the panel I I so that Whenthe nut I5 is tightened against the panelthe shell I3 will be held securely thereto.

The shell I3 is therefore electrically connected to the panel II, whichin turn is connected by the usual ground circuit to a source of energy,and said shell is thus adapted to serve as a contact for engaging theigniting unit I2 to conduct current thereto. The holder I0 carries asecond electrical connection in the form of a stud I1 passing through ametal bushing 18 located in the rear wall I4 of the shell. 'Ihe bushingI8 passes through a central aperture in the Wall I4, as shown in Fig. 2,and is headed-over on the outside of said Wall to securely hold itthereto. The stud I1 passes through the bushing and is insulatedtherefrom by a pair of insulating Washers and an insulating sleeve, asshown, and said stud is secured in place by a hexagonal nut, and hassecured thereto an electrical connection lug I9 by a second nut, all inthe conventional manner. The lug I9 is connected to the other terminalof the source of energy for the lighter.

The igniting unit I2 comprises a tubular body 20 of insulating material,externally threaded at its front end to carry a knob 2|, and internallythreaded at its rear end to carry a metal cap 22, on which is mounted aheating element 23.

The igniting unit I2 is adapted to be yielding held in open-circuitposition in the holder, and for this purpose the knob 2| is providedwith a cylindrical portion 2Ia adapted to slidably rit within a metalsleeve 24 which latter is slidably received and held in the shell |3 ofthe holding device. The front or outer rim of the sleeve 24 is flaredoutwardly to engage the nut I so that said sleeve is positioned therebyin the holder, and the inner or rear end of the sleeve is turnedinwardly to provide a flange 24a adapted to slide on the outer surfaceof the tubular body 20. Between the flange 24a and the back end of thecylindrical portion 2Ia of the knob there is disposed a helicalcompression spring 25 which yieldingly urges the knob 2| outwardly andinto its normal position, as of Fig. 1, where an external shoulder 20aprovided on the body 20 abuts the rear face of the flange 24a of thesleeve 24. Thus, when the igniting unit I2 is inserted in the holder IIJthe parts will have the positions shown in Fig. 1, this being theopen-circuit position of the lighter. The igniting unit I2 including thesleeve 24, is held in the holder I0 against casual removal or droppingout therefrom by a resilient tongue |311 lanced from the shell I3 andbiased inwardly to engage under slight pressure the sleeve 24.

The heating element 23 comprises an outer metal contact cup 26 enclosinga spiral heating coil 2l, the outer end of which coil is attached to thecup, and the inner end of which is held in the slitted head of a pin 28passing through the bottom of the cup and through a central aperture inthe cap 22, and being headed-over against the cap for holding theheating element thereon. The cup 26 is insulated from the cap 22 andfrom the pin 28 by suitable washers, as shown in Fig. 2, and the pin 28effects electrical connection between the inner end of the heating coil2'I and the cap 22 so that the latter can serve as a ycontact for theheating coil. The other contact for the coil is, of course, the cup 26.

The lighter shown is of the type wherein energization of the heatingelement is effected by moving the igniting unit from its normalopencircuit position of Fig. 1 to a deep position in the holder, as inFig, 2.

According to the present invention there is provided improved means forclosing the circuit through the heating element when the igniting unitis in the closed-circuit position of Fig. 2, and for holding theigniting unit in said position and releasing the unit for return toopen-circuit position in response to heating of the coil 21.. Theexemplilication of this means comprises a contact and latch assemblycarried by the stud 'II and adapted to engage and hold the cup 26 of theheating element, and to release said cup when the element reaches apredetermined useful temperature.

As shown, the stud I'I carries a resilient clip 29 having arms 30 whichare adapted to operatively carry a bimetallic snap member 3| havingattached to the ends thereof contact fingers 32 for engagement with thecup 26. The arms 30 of the clip 29 are shaped to provide pockets forreceiving and confining the ends 0f the snap member 3|, said arms eachhaving a pair of tabs 33a, see Fig. 4, to prevent the member 3| fromslipping laterally out of the clip, and said arms are biased inwardly tobear against the member 3| so that the latter buckles or bends eithertoward the clip or away from the clip. The contact lingers 32 carried bythe snap member 3| are so disposed and shaped that when the member isbuckled away from the clip the fingers will be in separated position toreceive the cup 26 of the heating element, as in Fig. 1.

When the igniting unit I2 is moved to the deep position in the holder,the cup 26 will pass between the contact ngers 32 and press against thesnap member 3| to move said member and cause it to snap, because of thepressure on its ends, and bulge toward the clip, this action operatingthe fingers 32 so that they grasp the cup 26, as in Fig. 2. The ignitingunit is therefore held in this deep position.

The circuit through the heating element is completed, when the ignitingunit is in this position, by a resilient contact nger 33 lanced inwardlyfrom the shell I3 to engage the rim of the cap 22, and current will flowthrough the lug I9, stud I1, clip 29, lingers 32, cup 26, heating coil21, pin 28, cap 22, contact finger 33, shell I3, and through the panelI| to the ground return of the circuit.

The bimetallic snap member 3| is adapted to respond to heat from theelement 23 by iiexing outwardly or away from the clip 29. As the heatingelement becomes hot the member 3| will therefore tend to straighten fromits position of Fig. 2, such straightening being shown in Fig. 3,wherein the member 3| is about to snap it to its initial position. Whenthis last occurs, the cup 26 will be released and the igniting unit willreturn under the urging of the spring 25 to its initial open-circuitposition, the circuit through the heating element being thus broken. Theigniting unit is then removed for transportation and use, and againreplaced in the holder to the position of Fig. l.

It will be noted that an advantage of the present lighter resides in theability to reenergize the heating element shortly after it has beeninitially energized, if this is desired. Due to the snap action of themember 3|, a slight cooling of this will permit it to be again snappedto the position of Fig. 2 to hold the igniting unit again in energizingposition, should such be desired.

Variations and modications may be made within the scope of thisinvention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unithaving a heating element supported by the holding device and completelyremovable therefrom for use; a movable contact mounted on the ignitingunit for movement into a position in which a circuit is closed to theheating element; and an elongate deformable heat-responsive memberhaving a contact secured thereto normally out of the path of the movablecontact, said deformable member being mounted so as to assume a buckledor curved position in either of two directions and actuated, uponmovement of the movable contact, into closed-circuit position to buckleand move the contact carried thereby into engagement with the movablecontact to establish the energizing circuit to the heating element, theheat-responsive means, upon being heated to a predetermined heat,deforming and buckling in the opposite direction 'to move the contactcarried thereby out of engagement with the movable contact to controlthe circuit to the heating element.

2. In an electric `cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unithaving a heating element supported by the holding device and completelyremovable therefrom for use; a contact mounted on kthe igniting unit formovement into a position in which a circuit is established to theheating element; and an elongate deformable heatresponsive memberdisposed transversely to the path of movement of the movable contact andhaving a contact secured thereto substantially perpendicular to thesurface `of the deformable member facing the movable contact anddisposed out of the path of movement of the movable contact, saiddeformable member being mounted to assume :a buckled or curved positionin either of two directions and actuated, upon movement of the movablecontact, into predetermined position with relation thereto to buckle andmove the contact carried thereby laterally into engagement with themovable contact to establish an energizing circuit to the heatingelement, said heat-responsive means being heated in accordance with `theheating of the heating element and buckling inthe opposite directionwhen the heating element reaches a predetermined heat to move thecontact carried thereby laterally out of engagement with the movablecontact.

3. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unithaving a heating element and a shoulder movably supported by theholdingy device and completely removable therefrom for use, saidigniting unit being movable on the holding device into aposition inwhich an energizing circuit to the heating element is closed; and adeformable heat-responsive member mounted on .the holding'device so asto assume a buckled or curved position in either 'of two directions andhaving latches formed thereon normally out of the path of movement oftheigniting unit, said deformable member being actuated, upon movement ofthe igniting unit, into closed-circuit position to buckle and move thelatches into' engagement with kthe shoulder on the igniting unit to hold`the igniting unit in closed-circuit position,

said heat-responsive member being heated in ac- ,f

cordance vwith the heating element and deforming yand buckling in theopposite direction when the heating element reaches a predetermined heat-to'release the latches from engagement with the shoulder on thevigniting unit;

4. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having aheating element thereon mounted on lthe holding device for completeremovalfforuse; and a switch disposed in the holding device, said switchcomprising a contact carried' by the igniting unit, a deformableheatresponsive member carried by said'holding device, and a contactsecured to said member, said contact being normally out of the path ofmovement of the contact carried by said igniting unit, said deformablemember `being mounted so as tol assume a buckled or curved position ineither of two positions and actuated, upon movement of the ignitingunit, into a position in which a circuit rcan be closed to buckle andmove the contact carried thereby into engagement with the contactcarried by the igniting unit to close a circuit, said deformableheat-responsive member, upon being heated to a predetermined heat,buckling in the opposite direction and moving the contact carriedthereby out of engagement with the contact carried by the igniting unit.

5. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit having aheating element thereon mounted on the holding device forcompleteremoval for use; and a switch including a contact carried by theigniting unit, a deformable heatresponsive member carried by the holdingdevice and extending transversely of the path of movement of thecontact, and a contact secured to said member projecting in thedirection of the first-named contact but located normally out of thepath of movement of the same, said deformable member being mounted so asto assume a buckled or curved position in either of two directions andactuated, upon movement `of the movable contact, into closed-circuitposition to buckle and move the contact carried thereby into engagementwith the contact carried by the igniting unit to close the circuit, thedeformable heat-responsive member, upon being heated to predeterminedheat, deforming and buckling in the opposite direction to move thecontact carried thereby out of engagement withv the contact carried bythe igniting unit.

6. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unitsupported by the holding device and completely removable therefrom foruse, the unit being movable on the holding device from an open-circuitposition to a closedcircuit position; a heating element carried by theigniting unit; contact means in the holding device for closing a circuitthrough the heating element; means including a deformable heatresponsivesnap member in heat-receiving relation With the heating elementconnected to the contact means; and means including a resilient clipcarrying said member to conne and bear against the edges thereof tocause the member to buckle or curve in either of two directions, themember being normally curved away from the clip so as to be engaged by aportion ofthe igniting unit when moved to circuit-'closing position,whereby it will be flexed so as to curve toward the clip and move theconnectedcontacts to close the circuit `for the heating element, and,upon the heating element attaining a predetermined useful heat, openingthe circuit.

rI. In a cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unit supported bythe holding device and completely removable therefrom for use, theunit'being movable on `the holding device from an open circuit positionto a closed-circuit position; a heating element carried by theigniting'unit; contacts in the holding device for closing a circuitthrough the heating element; means lincluding an elongate deformableheat-responsive snap member in heat-receiving relation with the heatingelement; detents on the member for engaging the igniting unit andholding the same in closed-circuit position; and means including aresilient clip carrying said member to 'confine and bear against theedges thereof to cause lthe member to buckle or curve in either of twodirections, the member being normally curved away from the clip so as tobe engaged by the igniting unit when moved into circuit-closingposition, whereby it will be ilexed so as to curve toward the clip andmove the det'ents into holding relation with the igniting unit, and,upon the heating element attaining a predetermined useful heat,releasing the detents.

8. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unitsupported by the holding device and completely removable therefrom foruse, the unit being movable on the holding device from an open-circuitposition to a closed-circuit position; a heating element carried by theigniting unit; contact means including latching contacts in the holdingdevice for closing a circuit through the heating element; meansincluding an elongate deformable heat-responsive snap member inheat-receiving relation with the heating elementl connected to thecontact means; and means including a resilient clip carrying said memberto confine and bear against the edges thereof to cause the member tobuckle or curve in either of two directions, the member being normallycurved away from the clip so as t be engaged by the heating element whenmoved to circuit-closing position whereby it will be flexed so as tocurve toward the clip and connect the contacts in latchedcircuit-closing relation with the heating element, and, upon the heatingelement attaining a predetermined useful heat, releasing the latches andopening the circuit.

9. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unitsupported by the holding device and completely removable therefrom foruse, the unit being movable on the holding device from an open-circuitto a closed-circuit position; means for yieldingly urging the unit toopen-circuit position; a heating element rncunted on the igniting unit;contact means including latches in the holding device for closing acircuit through the heating element and holding the circuit closed;means including an elongate deformable heat-responsive snap member inheat-receiving relation with the heating element connected to thecontact means; and means including a resilient clip carried by saidmember to confine and bear against the edges thereof to cause the memberto buckle or curve in either of two directions, the member beingnormally curved away from the clip so as to be engaged by the ignitingunit when moved to circuitclosing position, whereby it will be flexed soas to curve toward the clip and move the contact means to close thecircuit for the heating element, and, upon the heating element attaininga predetermined useful heat, releasing the latches whereby the yieldingmeans moves the igniting unit to open-circuit position.

10. In an electric gear lighter, a holding device; an igniting unitsupported by the holding device and. completely removable therefrom foruse, the unit being movable on the holding device from an open-circuitposition to a closedcircuit position; a heating element carried by theigniting unit; contact means in the holding device for closing a circuitthrough the heating element; means including an elongate deformableheat-responsive snap member in heat-receiving relation with the heatingelement connected to the contact means; and means including a resilientclip having bearings thereon to confine and bear against the edgesthereof to cause the member to buckle or curve in either of twodirections, the member being normally curved away from the clip so as tobe engaged by the igniting unit when moved to circuitclosing position,whereby it will be flexed so as to curve toward the clip and move theconnected contacts to close the circuit for the heating element, and,upon the heating element attaining a predetermined useful heat, openingthe circuit.

11. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unitsupported by the holding device and completely removable therefrom foruse, the unit being movable on the holding device from an open-circuitposition to a closed-circuit position; a heating element mounted on theigniting unit; Contact means in the holding device for closing a circuitthrough the heating element; means including an elongate deformableheat-responsive snap member in heat-receiving relation with the heatingelement connected to the contact means; and means including a resilientclip having bearings provided with side plates thereon to confine andbear against the edges thereof to cause the member to buckle or curve ineither of two directions, the member being normally curved away from theclip so as to be engaged by the igniting unit when moved tocircuit-closing position, whereby it will be flexed so as to curvetoward the clip and move the connected contacts to close the circuit forthe heating element, and, upon the heating element attaining apredetermined useful heat, opening the circuit.

12. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unitsupported by the holding device and completely removable therefrom foruse, the unit being movable on the holding device from an open-circuitposition to a closedcircuit position; a heating element mounted on theigniting unit; contact means in the holding device for closing a circuitthrough the heating element; means including an elongate deformableheat-responsive snap member in heat-receiving relation with the heatingelement and having the contact means secured thereon in spaced relationso as to engage the sides of the heating element; and means including aresilient clip carrying said member to confine and bear against theedges thereof to cause the member to buckle or curve in either of twodirections, the member being normally curved away from the clip so as tobe engaged by the igniting unit when moved to circuit-closing position,whereby it will be flexed so as to curve toward the clip and move theconnected contacts to close the circuit for the heating element, and,upon the heating element attaining a predetermined useful heat, openingthe circuit.

13. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unitsupported by the holding device and completely removable therefrom foruse, the unit being movable on the holding device from an open-circuitposition to a closed-circuit position; a heating element mounted on theigniting unit; contact means in the holding device for closing a circuitthrough the heating element; means including a deformableheat-responsive snap member extending transversely of the holder and inheat-receiving relation with the heating element and having the contactmeans mounted thereon in spaced relation so as to engage the sides ofthe heating element; and means including a resilient clip carrying saidmember to confine and bear against the edges thereof to cause the memberto buckle or curve in either of two directions, the member beingnormally curved away from the clip so as to be engaged by the ignitingunit when moved to circuit-closing position, whereby it will be flexedso as to curve toward the clip and move the connected contacts to closethe circuit for the heating element, and, upon the heating elementattaining a predetermined useful heat, opening the circuit.

14. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unitsupported by the holding device and completely removable therefrom foruse, the unit being movable on the holding device from an open-circuitposition to a closed-circuit position; a heating element on the ignitingunit; contact means in the holding device for closing a circuit throughthe heating element; means including an elongate deformableheat-responsive snap member in heat-receiving relation with the heatingelement and connected with the contact means so that the contacts extendsubstantially perpendicular to the member; and means including aresilient clip carrying said member to conne and bear against the edgesthereof to cause the member to buckle or curve in either of twodirections, the member being normally curved away from the clip so as tobe engaged by the igniting unit when moved to circuit-closing position,whereby it will be exed so as to curve toward the clip and move theconnected contacts to close the circuit for the heating element, and,upon the heating element attaining a predetermined useful heat, openingthe circuit. Y

15. In an electric cigar lighter, a holding device; an igniting unithaving a heating element carried thereby and supported by the holdingdevice and completely removable therefrom for use; an elongatedeformable heat-responsive snap member; contacts secured to the edges ofsaid member so as to extend substantially perpendicular thereto; andmeans mounted in the holder including a resilient clip provided withbearings adapted to engage the contacts and to conne and bear againstthe member to cause the member to buckle or curve in either of twodirections, the member being normally curved away from the clip so as tobe engaged by the heating element to move to circuit-closing positionwhereby it will be flexed so as to curve toward the clip and move thecontacts about the bearing surfaces as pivots to close the circuit tothe heating element, and, upon the heating element attainingpredetermined useful heat, moving the contact to open the circuit.

JOSEPH H. COHEN.

y CERTIFICATE oF coRREcTioN. Patent No. 2,2h8,o17. July 1, 19m.

JOSEPH H. COHENs It is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent requiring` correctionas follows: Page 2s first column, line l-lLL, for the word 7,wfieldingread yieldinglyg page l1., first column, line 559 claim lOg {for "gear"read --eigar--g and that the said Letters Patent should be read withthis correction therein that the same may conform to the record. of theoase in the Patent Office@ Signed and sealed. this 25rd. dayAoSeptember9 A@ 19h11.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner ofA Patents? v CERTIFICATECE CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,2LI8,017. July 1, 19in;

JOSEPH H. COHEN,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the abovel numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2,first Column, line l-lb., for the word "yielding" read --yieldingly-v-gpage li, first Column, line 55, Claim lO, :for "gear" read cgar; and thtthe said Letters Patent should be read with this Correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.,

Signed and sealed this 25rd dayof September, A; 1914.1.

l Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of' P atents,

